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Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for 2024-2025

30 May, 2024

We have reviewed and updated our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for 2024-2025, setting out our ambitions and objectives for the next two years. 

We are committed to being an inclusive regulator and EDI is central to our overarching objective of public protection, and to our strategic goals as both a regulator and an employer. 

Patients need safe and effective care and to be treated with respect and dignity. Dental professionals need to be equipped to provide this patient-centred care, and to work in an environment in which they are respected and treated fairly by employers, colleagues and patients.  

We know that we have a significant role in promoting EDI and identifying and tackling discrimination and inequality through our regulatory functions and as an employer. 

Our EDI vision and approach will be incorporated into our broader corporate strategy development and delivery from 2026, ensuring that our EDI vision and commitments are embedded within our broader strategic objectives. In the meantime, this two-year ‘bridging’ strategy both builds upon the solid foundations laid by the last EDI strategy and paves the way for a new approach in 2026. 

Our work around EDI is informed and evidence based and the strategy and objectives reflect not only our legal obligations and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) standards but also insight from the previous EDI strategy, our research programme, and colleague surveys and engagement.  

The EDI strategy has five objectives:   

  1. Developing and supporting an inclusive profession that is equipped to provide patient-centred care to every patient. 
  2. Identifying and removing any barriers that patients, the public, dental professionals and partners encounter when engaging with us.
  3. Making sure that our regulatory processes and the decisions we take are fair and consistent and embody the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  4. Making sure that our equality, diversity and inclusion action is guided and informed by insight gained through data, research, and feedback.
  5. Embedding an inclusive workplace culture at all levels in the GDC where all staff feel welcomed, integrated, valued and included.